Our huge thanks - and congratulations - to Lachlan Taylor, who has been commissioning editor of the ArtNow Essays since Oct 2021, and is stepping down to begin a PhD in Art History at the University of Texas in Austin, USA, as a recipient of a Fulbright New Zealand Award.
During his time with ArtNow, Lachlan commissioned 15 Essays, 8 Thinking Out Loud pieces and worked with more than 27 writers.
Lachlan’s stated ambition for the Essays on ArtNow was to offer “an online venue where writing’s imaginative potential meets editorial rigour. In its commitment to the essay, a form that can draw readily from journalism, criticism, and memoir, this site seeks to cultivate a culture of independent, critical and original commentary on contemporary art. Its aim is to deliver serious, well-researched, and intellectually stimulating writing to engage readers and build an informed audience for the visual arts.” Lachlan has fulfilled this ambition with rigour, humour, intelligence and a lot of hard work.
Both ArtNow and the Essay Advisory Group – chaired by Christina Barton, director of Adam Art Gallery, Anthony Byrt, the Kaipukahu University of Waikato Writer in Residence for 2023, Abby Cunnane, director of The Physics Room, Sophie Davis, manager and curator of Hastings City Art Gallery, Simon Gennard, writer and curator, assistant curator at Govett Brewster/Len Lye Centre, Hiraani Himona, director at Te Tuhi, Stephanie Post, director of ArtNow, Hanahiva Rose, curator at Te Papa – are incredibly grateful to Lachlan for his contribution and wish him the very best for the future.
Going forward, the ArtNow Essays will be commissioned and edited by members of the advisory group, led by Christina Barton, and with input from Anthony Byrt, Abby Cunnane, Sophie Davis, Simon Gennard and Hanahiva Rose. We look forward to the publication of the Essays and Thinking Out Loud pieces they are working on.
You can browse all Essays and Thinking Out Loud features here.
The ArtNow Essay platform is made possible through the support of Creative New Zealand and members of the Aotearoa Public Gallery Directors’ Network (APGDN):
Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi Victoria University of Wellington
Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History
Artspace Aotearoa
Blue Oyster Art Project Space
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi
Dunedin Public Art Gallery
Enjoy Contemporary Art Space
Govett Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre
Gus Fisher Gallery, The University of Auckland
Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga – Hastings City Art Gallery
New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata
Objectspace
Pātaka Art + Museum
Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui
ST PAUL St Gallery | Auckland University of Technology
Tauranga Art Gallery Toi Tauranga
Te Manawa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Tautai
Te Tuhi
Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery
The Dowse Art Museum
The Physics Room
The Suter Art Gallery
Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato and ArtsPost Galleries & Shop
Wairau Māori Art Gallery
Whirinaki Whare Taonga
Image courtesy of Lachlan Taylor.